Calculating and communicating level of carbon offsetting required to compensate for performing a computing task

ABSTRACT

Methods, systems, services and program products are provided for implementing carbon offset computing. During performance of a specified computing task data concerning resource consumption regarding that specified computing task is gathered and stored. Upon completion of the specified computing task, the amount of carbon offset required to compensate for resource consumption associated with performance of the completed specified computing task is calculated based upon stored or known resource consumption data. The calculated amount of carbon offset information may be transmitted to a carbon offset function provider, and a carbon offset function provider implements the specified amount of carbon offset based upon the calculated amounts communicated for the completed specified computing task.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally describes a method, system and devicefor calculating and communicating levels of carbon offset for specificcomputing tasks and offsetting the resulting environmental impact ofperforming such tasks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Green computing has been defined as the study and practice of usingcomputing resources efficiently. Typically, technological systems orcomputing products that incorporate green computing principles take intoaccount economic viability, social responsibility and environmentalimpact. In particular, green computing includes efforts to obtainmaximized energy efficiency from the computer resources being used.

Green computing is also described as the science behind efficientcomputing and performing tasks on a smaller power budget. All computerusage consumes energy, and depending on the energy source, such usagemay also increase greenhouse gas emissions. The United StatesGovernment, as well as the information technology industry, recognizesthe importance of efficient computing in order to reduce greenhouse gasemissions resulting from energy or power consumption. Large governmentand commercial initiatives are underway to identify environmentallyconscious information technology programs and the most efficientcomputers.

In addition to using energy efficient computers and computing programsto perform computing tasks using a smaller power budget, carbonoffsetting has also become a popular method to address environmentalconcerns. Carbon offsetting is generally referred to as the act ofmitigating, or offsetting, greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon offsettingenables mitigation of current or future greenhouse gas emissions througha variety of methods. The planting of trees has become one of the betterknown examples of compensating for greenhouse gas emissions resultingfrom personal air travel.

Companies and organizations are known to specialize in the performanceof carbon offsetting functions or operations. These companies andorganizations initiate carbon offsetting operations after individualsmake financial contributions or companies sign contracts to pay foroffsetting operations. However, these efforts are independent of, andnot responsive to, actual amounts of carbon offset required as indicatedby the actual usage of computing resources required to perform specificcomputing tasks. Neither has prior carbon offsetting permitted acomputer user to participate in determining levels of carbon offsettingdesired to compensate for greenhouse gas emissions used in theperformance of computing tasks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Methods are provided for calculating a level or amount of carbon offsetin compensation for performance of a computer task or specific computerusage. Methods include gathering and storing resource consumption datarelated to the embarking, performance and completion of a specifiedcomputing task. Amount of carbon offset required to compensate forresource consumption associated with performance of the completedspecified computing task are calculated as a function of stored resourceconsumption data, and calculated amounts of carbon offset aretransmitted to a carbon offset function provider. Carbon offsetfunctions are thus implemented based upon calculated amounts of carbonoffset for completed specified computing tasks.

In another aspect, service methods are provided comprising deployingapplications for calculating a level or amount of carbon offset incompensation for performance of a computer task or specific computerusage according to the method steps described above, for example by aservice provider who offers to implement, deploy, and/or performfunctions for others. Still further, articles of manufacture comprisinga computer usable medium having a computer readable program in saidmedium are provided. Such program code comprises instructions which,when executed on a computer system, cause the computer system to performone or more method and/or process elements described above forcalculating a level or amount of carbon offset in compensation forperformance of a computer task or specific computer usage. Moreover,systems, articles and programmable devices configured for performing oneor more method and/or process elements of the current invention are alsoprovided, configured to calculate a level or amount of carbon offset incompensation for performance of a computer task or specific computerusage, for example as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the methods, systems and devices for carbonoffsetting will be more readily understood from the following detaileddescription of the various aspects of the embodiments taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a flow chart illustrating a method and system for invokingcarbon offsetting computing according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a programmable device configured tocalculate carbon offsetting for a computing task according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a computerized implementation ofa process for carbon offsetting for a computing task according to thepresent invention.

The drawings are not necessarily to scale. The drawings are merelyschematic representations, not intended to portray specific parametersof the invention. The drawings are intended to depict only typicalembodiments of the invention, and therefore should not be considered aslimiting the scope of the invention. In the drawings, like numberingrepresents like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For convenience purposes, the Detailed Description of the Invention hasthe following sections:

I. General Description; and

II. Computerized Implementation

I. General Description

Carbon offset computing, or a carbon offsetting method, system anddevice, may be defined as one that calculates and communicates levels oramounts of carbon offset required to compensate for greenhouse gasemissions generated in connection with specific computing tasks. Theamount of carbon offset may be calculated based upon a number of inputs,including the level of carbon offset desired by the user. According tothe present invention a resulting carbon offset may then be communicatedas a desired carbon offset function to compensate for the environmentalimpact, or greenhouse gas emissions, resulting from performance of thespecific computing tasks or use of the specific computing resources.

More particularly, FIG. 1 illustrates a method or system according tothe present invention for enabling a computer user to calculate thecarbon offset which would be required as a direct result of the computeruser's performance of a specified computer processing task. At 102 aspecified computing task is embarked upon or otherwise initiated. If at104 carbon offsetting processes are enabled, then resource consumptionmetrics and/or other data related to the specified computing task isgathered and stored at 106 (else the process ends at 108). Resourceconsumption metrics and/or data continues to be collected and stored bylooping back to 106 during the performance of the specified computingtask until the task is completed as determined at 110. An amount ofcarbon offset required to compensate for resource consumption associatedwith performance of the completed specified computing task is thencalculated at 112 as a function of stored resource consumption data, andthe calculated amount of carbon offset is transmitted to a carbon offsetfunction provider at 114. One or more carbon offset functions are thenimplemented at 116 based upon the amount of carbon offset calculated at112 for the completed specified computing task, the process ending at108.

To use current computer systems in an efficient manner requires generalenergy management and increasing knowledge with respect to the use oflocal and network available technological resources. A server farmhousing computers that serve internet web pages may have large powerneeds, and information technology ecosystems create an array ofcomplexities, ranging from data center to client computing and fromcustomer impacts to business impacts, with many investment and processdecisions involving the trade off of energy savings for performance.Given these interdependencies and complexities, green computingprocesses are still evolving to meet desired levels of performance.

Green computing solutions will likely evolve differently for everycomputer situation. Difficulties with such different solutions arise inindividual computer energy management, for example, a laptop with a highresolution video display may require a more expensive battery technologyif weight is to be maintained as well as battery life. While lessexpensive battery use may result in the laptop being moreenergy-efficient, for example in CPU and hard drive processing, theperformance of the CPU and hard drive may be so much lower as to beundesirable to or unworkable for the computer user and the particularcomputing task to be performed. As a result, energy efficiency may bedesired, but difficult to achieve, using low performance equipment andtechnology. Methods and systems according to the present inventionenable a computer user to obtain a desired end result of offsettinggreenhouse gas emissions generated during a specified computerprocessing task by using a method of carbon offset directly related tothe computer processing tasks performed.

Methods, systems and devices according to the present invention providefor calculating the level or amount of carbon offset which would berequired to compensate for performance of a computer task or specificcomputer usage, communicating the level or amount of carbon offset forsuch specific computing tasks or usage, and offsetting the resultingenvironmental impact of such tasks or usage as may be indicated by thecomputer user by a carbon offset function or operation. These methods,systems and devices may calculate carbon offset calculations derivingcarbon offset amounts proportional to the energy or resources consumedin performance of the computer task or computer usage, providing userswith the ability to favor computing tasks that consume less energyresources and thereby resulting in a smaller global environmental impactfrom such computing tasks.

Carbon offset computing according to the present invention comprehends anumber of inputs or data points to calculate the actual carbon offsetassociated with a specific computational task or computer usage. Suchinputs may be selected by a computer user or automatically required inconnection with performance of certain computer tasks. To determine theactual carbon offset associated with a specific computing task inputsare collected from the start of the computing task through itscompletion. The inputs for the computing task are collected from metricsboth internal and external to the computing task. For example, suchinputs may include: the degree of carbon offsetting desired; powerconsumption; time of day; geographic location; level of network usage;heat generated; and paper printed. Additionally, such inputs may includea percentage of the infrastructure supporting the devices executing thecomputing task. For example, a percentage may be calculated based on adata center's energy use for lighting, temperature control, backupdevices, monitoring devices, staff devices, and other devices thatconsume energy, wherein the calculated percentage is the execute time ofthe task divided by the execute time for all tasks on all devices in thedata center, multiplied by the total energy costs of the infrastructure.

In some embodiments desired carbon offsets are calculated based uponinputs collected and stored during performance of a specified computertask. Once calculated, the carbon offset data may then be communicatedto a designated commercial carbon offset provider for implementation.The carbon offset provider performs the desired carbon offset functionor operation based upon the carbon offset data provided. Such acommercial provider may be a company that plants trees for carbonsequestration or that makes technological investments intended to reduceemissions or that transfers funds in a carbon offset credit or debittransaction. In some embodiments inputs collected and stored duringperformance of the specified computer task are transmitted to anotherparty for calculation, which may be the carbon offset function provider,or a party having further information to be applied to the calculationof the amount of carbon offset.

In some embodiments a computer user may participate in and specify apercentage or amount of carbon offsetting or mitigation desired inconnection with performance of a specific computer task. For example, adevice may include a computer graphical user interface which, onceenabled or utilized by the user, performs the carbon offset calculationbased upon the specific settings provided by the user for performancedata collection at 106 (FIG. 1) and/or for calculating the amount ofcarbon offset at 112. Illustrative but not exhaustive setting examplesinclude general sets of settings (e.g. three selectable “lowconservation,” “medium conservation” and “high conservation” settings),as well as more specific or rigorous user-defined specifications.Formulas or policy tables may also be used to map the carbon offsettingintent of the user to actual amounts of carbon offset required tocompensate for the computing tasks performed.

Based upon the specific metrics or other data associated with aspecified computer processing task a computer user may determine a levelof carbon offset desired, and provide the desired carbon offset amountto a commercial offset provider so that the carbon offset functions maybe performed. For example, the greenhouse gas emissions resulting fromthe performance of the computer processing task may be offset by theplanting of a specific number of trees or other plant materials orsponsorship or funding of other energy friendly initiatives.

FIG. 2 illustrates a programmable device or module 200 configured tocalculate a level or amount of carbon offset in compensation forperformance of a computer task or specific computer usage according tothe present invention. The device 200 may be incorporated into a largesystem wherein other components of the system accomplish systems andmethods according to the present invention, or it may be a stand-alonedevice or module configured to perform each of the processes and methodsof the present invention, for example as discussed above with respect toFIG. 1. The present embodiment comprises a central processing unit (CPU)or other processing means 201 in communication with a memory 203, thememory 203 comprising logic components that enable the CPU 201 toperform processes and methods according to the present application. Thememory 203 comprises logic components configured to perform theprocesses discussed above, including those described with respect toFIG. 1, including a power consumption or usage calculator/monitor/meterlogic component 202 configured to directly measure or obtain performancedata relative to a specified task; a carbon offset amount calculatorlevel device interface logic component 204 configured to calculate anamount of carbon offset required to compensate for resource consumptionassociated with performance of a specified computing task as a functionof stored resource consumption data; a user interface logic component206 configured to enable a user to provide specific settings forperformance data collection and/or for calculating carbon offsetsaccording to the present invention; and a provider interface logiccomponent 208 configured to transmit amounts of carbon offset calculatedaccording to the present invention to, or to otherwise communicate with,a carbon offset function provider. A power unit 205 is configured toprovide operative power to the device 200; examples include batteryunits 205 and power inputs configured to receive alternating or directcurrent electrical power, and other appropriate power units 205 will beapparent to one skilled in the art. A communication port or networklink/node means 207 is also provided and configured to enable networkand other communications with users, other devices, and offset, systems,monitoring, administrative and service provider entities, as well asothers as appropriate.

Some embodiments may implement user interface component 206 inputsthrough an additional button, slider, rocker switch or dial on acomputer system or computer system keyboard, whereupon actuation of sucha button, etc. by a user causes a process or system according to thepresent invention to collect energy usage or carbon emission data usingthe power consumption monitor component 202 related to the computerprocessing task being performed, and further once a computer processingtask is completed collected carbon emission data is used to calculatethe amount of carbon offset required with respect to the specificcompleted computer processing task. Other embodiments may invokeadditional or subsequent initiations or inputs (e.g. button depressions)in order to consider the amount of greenhouse gas emission considerationthe specific computer user desires to compensate, for example, 100% or alesser percentage may be desired and initiated through a one or morebutton inputs. A button may also indicate a desired percentage ordesired green state. Sliders or dials may enable a user to select alevel of carbon offset desired; in some examples a switch may benumbered lowest to highest, as correlated to a largest amount of carbonoffset to fully compensate for the computing task performance. Otherembodiments may enable user inputs through programs and applicationsinstalled on a computational device, for example through graphical userinterface (GUI) inputs and displays using desktop icons, a system trayicons or application menus, and further wherein upon invocation a menudisplay may permit a user to select details for the energy conservativestate or enter the conservative states and settings directly.

In some examples according to the present invention, prior toperformance of the specified computer processing task, a query may bemade regarding whether it is desired to enable the carbon offsettingsystem. Methods and systems may include the ability of a computer systemadministrator as well as a computer user to specify carbon generatingperformance parameters desired to be included or excluded with respectto the company's network, internet activity or local computer equipmentused to perform a specific computing task. Users/administrators/etc. maythus use a device interface to select or specify the possible carbonoffset level, further wherein offset levels are displayed to the userfor selection. In one embodiment desired carbon offset levels displayedto a user may be generated by querying a policy look up table containingpossible computational device resource considerations.

Once performance of the specified computer processing task is completed,the desired carbon offset information may thus be calculated based uponthe collected stored data. For example, a look up table may be usedwhich contains comparative information regarding the amount of carbonoffset required to compensate for the greenhouse gas emissions generatedas a result of the specific computer performance and energy consumptionlevels collected and stored during the specific computer processingtask. Alternatively, third party or service provider business emissioncalculators may be consulted for additional comparative informationconcerning carbon offset calculations; in one embodiment third partycalculators may be used via a web service provided by the third party,or a hypertext markup language (HTML) form filler or parser may beused/created to interact with the third party calculator.

The carbon offset functions performed at a level selected may also bedisplayed for the user. Examples of third party providers available toimplement desired emission reduction measures or functions include theClimate Trust organization and NativeEnergy, Inc., both of the UnitedStates. Such third party providers are available to implement emissionreductions based upon a variety of commercial relationships orcontractual agreements, which may be arranged in advance by the systemadministrator or individually by the computer user. Additional thirdparty providers of such services, both within and outside of the UnitedStates, are also appropriate for use with the present invention, as willbe appreciated by one skilled in the art, in particular as the goal ofobtaining carbon neutrality continues to expand on a global basis.

II. Computerized Implementation

Referring now to FIG. 3, an exemplary computerized implementation of aprocess for calculating carbon offset in compensation for performance ofa computer task or specific computer usage according to the presentinvention is provided, including a computer system 304 deployed within acomputer infrastructure 308 such as a computer or a programmable devicesuch as a personal digital assistant (PDA) or cellular phone. This isintended to demonstrate, among other things, that the present inventioncould be implemented within a network environment 340 (e.g., theInternet, a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), avirtual private network (VPN), etc.) in communication with one or moreadditional computers 336, or on a stand-alone computer infrastructure308. In the case of the former, communication throughout the network 340can occur via any combination of various types of communication links.For example, the communication links can comprise addressableconnections that may utilize any combination of wired and/or wirelesstransmission methods. Where communications occur via the Internet,connectivity could be provided by conventional TCP/IP sockets-basedprotocol, and an Internet service provider could be used to establishconnectivity to the Internet.

As shown, the computer system 304 includes a central processing unit(CPU) 312, a memory 316, a bus 320, and input/output (I/O) interfaces324. Further, the computer system 304 is shown in communication withexternal I/O devices/resources 328 and storage system 332. In general,the processing unit 312 executes computer program code, such as the codeto implement various components of the process and systems, and devicesas illustrated in FIGS. 1-2 and described above, including themonitor/meter logic component 202, the carbon offset amount calculatorlogic component 204, the user interface logic component 206 and theprovider interface logic component 208 discussed above, which are storedin memory 316 and/or storage system 332. It is to be appreciated thattwo or more, including all, of these components may be implemented as asingle component.

While executing computer program code, the processing unit 312 can readand/or write data to/from the memory 316, the storage system 332, and/orthe I/O interfaces 324. The bus 320 provides a communication linkbetween each of the components in computer system 304. The externaldevices 328 can comprise any devices (e.g., keyboard, pointing device,display, etc.) that enable a user to interact with computer system 304and/or any devices (e.g., network card, modem, etc.) that enablecomputer system 304 to communicate with one or more other computingdevices.

The computer infrastructure 308 is only illustrative of various types ofcomputer infrastructures for implementing the invention. For example, inone embodiment, computer infrastructure 308 comprises two or morecomputing devices (e.g., a server cluster) that communicate over anetwork to perform the various process steps of the invention. Moreover,computer system 304 is only representative of various possible computersystems that can include numerous combinations of hardware.

To this extent, in other embodiments, the computer system 304 cancomprise any specific purpose-computing article of manufacturecomprising hardware and/or computer program code for performing specificfunctions, any computing article of manufacture that comprises acombination of specific purpose and general-purpose hardware/software,or the like. In each case, the program code and hardware can be createdusing standard programming and engineering techniques, respectively.Moreover, the processing unit 312 may comprise a single processing unit,or be distributed across one or more processing units in one or morelocations, e.g., on a client and server. Similarly, the memory 316and/or the storage system 332 can comprise any combination of varioustypes of data storage and/or transmission media that reside at one ormore physical locations.

Further, I/O interfaces 324 can comprise any system for exchanginginformation with one or more of the external device 328. Still further,it is understood that one or more additional components (e.g., systemsoftware, math co-processing unit, etc.) not shown in FIG. 3 can beincluded in computer system 304. However, if computer system 304comprises a handheld device or the like, it is understood that one ormore of the external devices 328 (e.g., a display) and/or the storagesystem 332 could be contained within computer system 304, not externallyas shown.

The storage system 332 can be any type of system (e.g., a database)capable of providing storage for information under the presentinvention. To this extent, the storage system 332 could include one ormore storage devices, such as a magnetic disk drive or an optical diskdrive. In another embodiment, the storage system 332 includes datadistributed across, for example, a local area network (LAN), wide areanetwork (WAN) or a storage area network (SAN) (not shown). In addition,although not shown, additional components, such as cache memory,communication systems, system software, etc., may be incorporated intocomputer system 304.

While shown and described herein as a method and a system, it isunderstood that the invention further provides various alternativeembodiments. For example, in one embodiment, the invention provides acomputer-readable/useable medium that includes computer program code toenable a computer infrastructure to implement methods, systems anddevices according to the present application, for example as illustratedin FIGS. 1 and 2 above and described otherwise herein. To this extent,the computer-readable/useable medium includes program code thatimplements each of the various process steps of the present application.

It is understood that the terms computer-readable medium or computeruseable medium comprise one or more of any type of physical embodimentof the program code. In particular, the computer-readable/useable mediumcan comprise program code embodied on one or more portable storagearticles of manufacture (e.g., a compact disc, a magnetic disk, a tape,etc.), on one or more data storage portions of a computing device, suchas the memory 316 and/or the storage system 332 (e.g., a fixed disk, aread-only memory, a random access memory, a cache memory, etc.).

Still yet, computer infrastructure 308 is intended to demonstrate thatsome or all of the components of implementation according to the presentapplication could be deployed, managed, serviced, etc. by a serviceprovider who offers to implement, deploy, and/or perform the functionsof the present invention for others, for example by licensing methodsand browser or application server technology to an internet serviceprovider (ISP) or a cellular telephone provider. In one embodiment theinvention may comprise a business method that performs the process stepsof the invention on a subscription, advertising, and/or fee basis. Thusa service provider can create, maintain, support, etc., a computerinfrastructure, such as the computer infrastructure 308 that performsthe process steps of the present application for one or more customers,and in return the service provider can receive payment from thecustomer(s) under a subscription and/or fee agreement and/or the serviceprovider can receive payment from the sale of advertising content to oneor more third parties.

In still another embodiment, the invention provides acomputer-implemented method for enabling the processes, methods anddevices according to the present application. In this case, a computerinfrastructure, such as computer infrastructure 308, can be provided andone or more systems for performing the process steps of the inventioncan be obtained (e.g., created, purchased, used, modified, etc.) anddeployed to the computer infrastructure. To this extent, the deploymentof a system can comprise one or more of: (1) installing program code ona computing device, such as computer system 304, from acomputer-readable medium; (2) adding one or more computing devices tothe computer infrastructure; and (3) incorporating and/or modifying oneor more existing systems of the computer infrastructure to enable thecomputer infrastructure to perform the process steps of the invention.

As used herein, it is understood that the terms “program code” and“computer program code” are synonymous and mean any expression, in anylanguage, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause acomputing device having an information processing capability to performa particular function either directly or after either or both of thefollowing: (a) conversion to another language, code or notation; and/or(b) reproduction in a different material form. To this extent, programcode can be embodied as one or more of: an application/software program,component software/a library of functions, an operating system, a basicI/O system/driver for a particular computing and/or I/O device, and thelike.

The foregoing description of various aspects of the invention has beenpresented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formdisclosed, and obviously, many modifications and variations arepossible. Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to aperson skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scopeof the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.

1. A method for carbon offset computing, comprising: gathering andstoring resource consumption data related to embarking on a specifiedcomputing task by a computational device; completing by thecomputational device the specified computing task; calculating an amountof carbon offset required to compensate for resource consumptionassociated with performance of the completed specified computing task bythe computational device as a function of stored resource consumptiondata by: invoking a user-selected carbon offset level provided throughan interface of the computational device prior to the performance of theprocessing task by the computational device; querying a policy tablecontaining a plurality of possible computational device resourceconsiderations as a function of the carbon offset level invoking;displaying an available subset of the plurality of possible carbonoffset levels to a user as a function of the querying of the policytable; the user selecting at least one of the available subset possiblecarbon offset levels; implementing the at least one selected carbonoffset level for the computational device to perform the specifiedprocessing task; and displaying a carbon offset function performed bythe at least one selected carbon offset level; transmitting thecalculated amount of carbon offset to a carbon offset function provider;and implementing the carbon offset function based upon the calculatedamount of carbon offset for the completed specified computing task. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein the gathering and storing resourceconsumption data related to the specified computing task furthercomprises measuring a level of power consumption required for thespecified computing task.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein thegathering and storing resource consumption data related to the specifiedcomputing task further comprises determining a time of day and anexternal environmental temperature during which the specified computingtask is being performed.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the gatheringand storing resource consumption data related to the specified computingtask further comprises: determining a geographic location where thespecified computing task is being performed; and determining at leastone of a form of power generation provided at the geographic location,an excess power capacity at the geographic location, an externalenvironmental temperature at the geographic location and a proximity ofthe geographic location to another computer network to which connectionis required.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the gathering and storingresource consumption data related to the specified computing taskfurther comprises measuring a change in an internal temperature of acomputer performing the specified computing task during performance ofthe task.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the gathering and storingresource consumption data related to the specified computing taskfurther comprises determining how many pages of paper were printedduring performance of the specified computing task.
 7. An article ofmanufacture, comprising: a computer-readable tangible storage devicehaving computer readable program code embodied therewith, thecomputer-readable program code comprising instructions which, whenexecuted on a computer system processing unit, cause the computer systemprocessing unit to: gather and store resource consumption data relatedto embarking on a specified computing task by a computational device ina memory; calculate an amount of carbon offset required to compensatefor resource consumption associated with performance of the specifiedcomputing task by the computational device based upon the storedresource consumption data by: invoking a user-selected carbon offsetlevel provided through an interface of the computational device prior tothe performance of the processing task by the computational device;querying a policy table containing a plurality of possible computationaldevice resource considerations as a function of the carbon offset levelinvoking; displaying an available subset of the plurality of possiblecarbon offset levels to a user as a function of the querying of thepolicy table; implementing at least one selected carbon offset levelselected by the user from the displayed available subset of theplurality of possible carbon offset levels for the computational deviceperforming the specified processing task; and displaying a carbon offsetfunction performed by the at least one selected carbon offset level; andtransmit the calculated amount of carbon offset to the carbon offsetfunction provider via the network interface for implementation of thecarbon offset function based upon the calculated amount of carbon offsetfor the completed specified computing task.
 8. The article ofmanufacture of claim 7, the program code comprising instructions which,when executed on the computer system processing unit, causes thecomputer system processing unit to gather and store the resourceconsumption data related to the specified computing task by determininga time of day and an external environmental temperature during which thespecified computing task is being performed.
 9. The article ofmanufacture of claim 8, the program code comprising instructions which,when executed on the computer system processing unit, causes thecomputer system processing unit to gather and store the resourceconsumption data related to the specified computing task by: determininga geographic location where the specified computing task is beingperformed; and determining at least one of a form of power generationprovided at the geographic location, an excess power capacity at thegeographic location, an external environmental temperature at thegeographic location and a proximity of the geographic location toanother computer network to which connection is required.
 10. A system,comprising: a processing unit a tangible computer-readable storagedevice in communication with the processing unit; a memory incommunication with the processing unit; and a network interface incommunication with the processing unit, the memory and a carbon offsetfunction provider; wherein the processing unit, when executing programinstructions stored on the computer-readable storage device via thecomputer readable memory: gathers and stores resource consumption datarelated to a computational device embarking on a specified computingtask for storage in the memory; calculates an amount of carbon offsetrequired to compensate for resource consumption associated withperformance of the completed specified computing task by thecomputational device based upon the stored resource consumption data by:invoking a user-selected carbon offset level provided through aninterface of the computational device prior to the performance of theprocessing task by the computational device; querying a policy tablecontaining a plurality of possible computational device resourceconsiderations as a function of the carbon offset level invokingdisplaying an available subset of the plurality of possible carbonoffset levels to a user as a function of the querying of the policytable; implementing at least one selected carbon offset level selectedby the user from the displayed available subset of the plurality ofpossible carbon offset levels for the computational device performingthe specified processing task; and displaying a carbon offset functionperformed by the at least one selected carbon offset level; andtransmits the calculated amount of carbon offset to the carbon offsetfunction provider via the network interface for implementation of thecarbon offset function based upon the calculated amount of carbon offsetfor the completed specified computing task.
 11. The system of claim 10,wherein the processing unit, when executing the program instructionsstored on the computer-readable storage device via the computer readablememory, further a power consumption monitor to measure an amount ofpower consumed by the computational device during the completion of thespecified computing task.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein theprocessing unit, when executing the program instructions stored on thecomputer-readable storage device via the computer readable memory,further utilizes the power consumption monitor to determine a time ofday and an external environmental temperature during which the specifiedcomputing task is being performed.
 13. The system of claim 11, whereinthe processing unit, when executing the program instructions stored onthe computer-readable storage device via the computer readable memory,further utilizes the power consumption monitor to determine: ageographic location where the specified computing task is beingperformed; and at least one of a form of power generation provided atthe geographic location, an excess power capacity at the geographiclocation, an external environmental temperature at the geographiclocation and a proximity of the geographic location to another computernetwork to which connection is required.
 14. The system of claim 11,wherein the processing unit, when executing the program instructionsstored on the computer-readable storage device via the computer readablememory, further utilizes the power consumption monitor to measure,during the performance of the specified computing task, at least one ofa change in an internal temperature of the processing means, a change inan internal temperature of the memory, and how many pages of paper wereprinted.